<p>irish, i think that's just more evidence that ND is special. i know if i end up at ND (most likely) i will end up back on here helping future domers out. it's like a chain. you really do a good service for all us scared high schoolers</p>
<p>it helps a lot when you were once a scared high schooler and even more when you are going through the process again. When I was in high school I was on the Princeton Review boards (which aren't broken into schools so they aren't as good IMO) and it was a lifesend to me. I learned a lot and was constantly getting feedback and encouragement about the next step until I finally got into Notre Dame. </p>
<p>Now, I am on sdn.com asking people about graduate school so while I am helping here I am also getting help somewhere else. It is a weird cycle but I just can't see myself giving up this board, even in grad school. I really enjoy it and I think I get as much out of it as anyone. As you said, it is just what Domers do as well.</p>
<p>I hope you guys stay on the boards if for no other reason so that I can get to know you all better! If you do end up out here please let me know if you need anything next year. I do have a car on campus and I make regular trips to the grocery store!</p>
<p>FOOTBALL!!</p>
<p>Mr. Weiss</p>
<p>bravo, the numbers are in and he deserves a raise</p>
<p>lol, first thing you must learn with Notre Dame is it is Weis. I don't really care but people out here will bite your head off for it! It is funny, we are really really nice people until you spell the coach's name incorrectly, lol. At least that is true on the ND message boards.</p>
<p>Glad to see ND's rise in apps and expect to see more gains with thr return of football glory. However, Holy Cross realized a 41% increase in applications this year-HC went SAT optional like Bowdoin. In contrast to Georgetown, ND and Holy Cross seem to embrace their Catholic identity.</p>
<p>I like the SAT optional idea just because my SAT's weren't so hot (I wish I could do that right now with GRE's) but how do they judge students then? There is just so much variation between high schools on what a GPA means and some high school, like mine, doesn't rank! I haven't heard much on the Catholic nature of Holy Cross but if you are right, I am glad it isn't going the way of Georgetown. I still worry that ND may go that way one of these days!</p>
<p>Whether you like standardized testing or not, its still the only semi-objective attempt at getting an organized ranking for applicants. Does it evaluate a student's motivation or desire to come to a school, afraid not. Personally I don't think it likely that ND will dump the SAT component as HC did, simply because there are too many instances of grade inflatation going on at the HS level these days because of the emphasis of "getting" into the good college.</p>
<p>Love it or hate it, you need something like a SAT to try and assess student's knowledge...</p>
<p>I agree. However, I am not sure that I agree with the use of the GRE's for grad school since colleges aren't all that different, but that is probably just because I am studying for the GRE now! </p>
<p>I am not a big fan of tests but they are probably here to stay. I should buy stock in ETS, they make a lot of money of the GRE, SAT, LSAT, etc!</p>
<p>Irish - you're not helping our recruitment effort here with comments such as these: "colleges aren't all that different." I mean really, we spend hours and hours slaving over these posts, chained to our keyboards in our closet sized dorm rooms to answer these questions and try to convince everyone that ND is the greatest...and here you go suggesting as though this place is average. Negative points for you sirrah. That and you must copy out the following 1000 times, "ND is the greatest place to go"</p>
<p>BTW, the entire paragraph above was a joke. But I couldn't resist. It just was such a perfect opportunity with how hard you worked to transfer here and how much you talk up the school in such a positive light.</p>
<p>lol, I agree that was a great opportunity. However, I was referring to grade inflation. I know some schools have it, some don't, but you don't have the variation you have in high school. Also, since there are fewer colleges and they are more well-known; it is easier to judge what a 3.0 at a given college means hence (I feel) there is less of a need for standardized testing. However, once again, I am extremely biased because I have to take the GRE and it is a large factor in my getting into a Ph.D program :(</p>